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Anatomy & Physiology: Tissue Types and Characteristics

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Terms in this set (24)

  • What are the four basic types of tissues in the human body?
    Epithelial tissue, Connective tissue, Muscle tissue, and Nervous tissue.
  • What are the five distinguishing characteristics of epithelial tissue?
    Polarity, Specialized contacts, Supported by connective tissue, Avascular but innervated, and Regeneration.
  • Define polarity in epithelial tissue.
    Epithelial cells have an apical surface exposed to the surface or cavity and a basal surface attached to underlying connective tissue.
  • What specialized contacts join epithelial cells?
    Epithelial cells are joined by tight junctions and desmosomes to fit closely together.
  • What is the role of the basement membrane in epithelial tissue?
    The basement membrane supports epithelial tissue by separating it from underlying connective tissue.
  • Explain the terms avascular and innervated in relation to epithelial tissue.
    Epithelial tissue is avascular (lacks blood vessels) but innervated (supplied by nerve fibers).
  • How is epithelial tissue classified based on cell layers?
    Simple epithelium has one cell layer; stratified epithelium has two or more layers.
  • What are the three main shapes of epithelial cells?
    Squamous (flattened), cuboidal (cube-shaped), and columnar (tall, column-like).
  • Describe the structure and function of simple squamous epithelium.
    Single layer of flattened cells; allows diffusion and filtration; found in air sacs of lungs and lining of blood vessels.
  • What is the function and location of simple cuboidal epithelium?
    Functions in secretion and absorption; located in kidney tubules and ducts of small glands.
  • Describe simple columnar epithelium and its functions.
    Single layer of tall cells with microvilli or cilia; absorbs and secretes mucus and enzymes; lines digestive tract.
  • What characterizes pseudostratified columnar epithelium?
    Single layer of cells of varying heights; secretes mucus and propels it with cilia; found in upper respiratory tract.
  • What is the function of stratified squamous epithelium?
    Protects underlying tissues from abrasion; found in skin epidermis and linings of mouth, esophagus, and vagina.
  • Describe transitional epithelium and its function.
    Resembles both stratified squamous and cuboidal; stretches to accommodate urine; lines ureters and bladder.
  • How are glands classified based on product release?
    Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream; exocrine glands secrete products onto body surfaces or cavities via ducts.
  • What are the three types of fibers in connective tissue extracellular matrix?
    Collagen fibers (strongest), elastic fibers (stretchable), and reticular fibers (thin and branching).
  • What are the two forms of connective tissue cells?
    Blast cells (immature, secrete matrix) and cyte cells (mature, maintain matrix).
  • Name the four main classes of connective tissue.
    Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone, and blood.
  • What distinguishes dense regular connective tissue?
    Parallel collagen fibers; resists tension in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.
  • Describe the characteristics and function of hyaline cartilage.
    Firm matrix with invisible collagen fibers; supports and cushions; found in embryonic skeleton and joint surfaces.
  • What are the three types of muscle tissue?
    Skeletal muscle (voluntary, striated), cardiac muscle (involuntary, striated, with intercalated discs), and smooth muscle (involuntary, no striations).
  • What is the function of nervous tissue?
    Neurons transmit electrical signals; supporting cells protect and support neurons; located in brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
  • What are the three types of covering and lining membranes?
    Cutaneous membrane (skin), mucous membranes (line cavities open to exterior), and serous membranes (line closed body cavities).
  • What are the two major ways tissue repair occurs?
    Regeneration replaces lost cells with identical ones; fibrosis replaces lost cells with scar tissue.